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Baby Corn won't eat

M

miked801

New member
I got my first baby corn 9 days ago and it hasn't eaten yet. I know it was eating prekilled pinks in a seperate feeding enclosure at the pet store. The last time it ate was 3 days before I bought it (12 days ago). I've tried whole pinks and half pinks, in his house and in a seperate enclosure. I've tried wiggling it around with a skewer and even pushing it right in front of him. I've tried putting it in his hide, putting it right outside the hide, and putting it in the middle of the tank. He always seems far more interested in hiding or getting out of the enclosure than eating. Any suggestions?
 
If you just tried feeding him then wait 3 or 4 days before trying again. Give him time to settle in. Get a small paper bag (lunch sack size) put the snake and the pinkie in and secure the top. Leave in the enclosure overnight, do not disturb till morning. Make sure you also secure the lid of the enclosure in case he gets out of the paper bag. If he was eating before you got him then he will eat again, he just needs time to adjust. If he was eating prekilled then you can try a live pinkie. Sometimes this will get them interested in eating again. It's a good idea to wait 3 or 4 days between unsuccessful feeding attempts so you don't keep stressing him. Good luck.
 
Thanks for the tips, I was thinking I might try to put him in something opaque (I've been using Gladware containers for feeding) in order to counteract his interest in getting out. I did wait about 2 days between tries, but I'll give it until the weekend I guess. If he doesn't eat after trying a bag overnight then I'll try live prey. I know they can fast for quite a while, but it kinda worried me. Thanks again for the reassurement.
 
I use the Gladware too, just make sure that you put some air holes in the lid. They seal very tight and it might not be enough air for overnight. I like the paperbags for stubborn feeders because they can't see out and get distracted or scared.
 
Well, I *was* feeling better, until I got home. Hopefully things work out better with the next one. I really did try everything, and I'm thinking it was probably something out of my control if the snake was starving to death and wouldn't eat. Sound fair? I feel horrible, but I managed to help my girlfriend raise a baby Water Dragon with no advice, and those are a fair amount easier to kill. I suppose I'm just trying to make myself feel better here...
The pet store had about 20 babies, so when they say "we fed them Friday" I suppose it's possible that mine didn't eat then as well. Hmph.
Thanks for your advice anyway, I'll take it to heart and use it with the new snake.
 
I'm sorry that it turned out the way it did. Since you only had him 9 days I would say it wasn't something you did. Some hatchlings just don't make it no matter what efforts are made to help them. The pet store probably didn't know for sure if he was eating or not. You might try finding a breeder that will sell you one that has eaten a few times. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
 
Well I went back to the pet store last night and talked to their herp guy. He said he can't get any of them to eat now. He said I could try another one, but he didn't know how they were going to turn out. I took a snow this time, and it looks far healthier than the previous snake I had. It's really strong and a fair amount bigger... not just longer but bulkier as well. It hasn't eaten since the 23rd, so I tried to feed it last night in the cardboard box it came in, no joy. But, It's really skittish, so I think it may just need to settle down. I'll try a live pink on Friday or Saturday; whenever it calms down.
If I hold it up to the light, I can see through it, and there's a couple of dark spots. One about 2" back from it's snout which I presume to be the organs, and another that's obviously fecal matter. I know they were being fed in a dish with wood chips; maybe it has a bowel impaction? I think I'll try to give it a lukewarm bath before I feed it (if it hasn't pooped by then). If it won't take live prey, I'm going to a vet. Thanks for all your help!
 
Hi

With snow corns and other lighter corns you can easily see organs...and yes fecal matter. The gall bladder is really visible and this is probably what you are seeing.

I would leave this baby corn alone in a very small enclosure for a whole week. Don't even peek at him. Then try feeding him a thawed brained pinkie (pinkie with some cuts on the head so blood and what not comes out) Put him and this pinkie in a little box or brown paper bag overnight.

If this does not work try again a few days later with a live pinkie.

If THAT does not work rub a pinkie on your water dragon or even better on a anole (the pet store shoudl have problem letting you do this or even letting you purchase a dead anole to keep in freezer) Almost all the time the lizard smell makes them eat.

Good luck and stop buying from that pet store :) Good breeders don't sell any snake until its eating unless otherwise noted and for a very cheaper price.

bmm
 
Ok, so I left him alone for seven days. The only interaction I had was grabbing him and holding him over his water dish so he'd drink every other day. I think he doesn't understand that the shallow tera cotta dish is for drinking; I may have to change it.
Anyway, I tried a brained pink, and it didn't even touch it. It seemed like he couldn't even see it. Sure enough, two days later he shed. So yesterday I picked up a live pink. As soon as I stuck him in the bag he struck at it a few times and then ate it. I'm pleased. Next time I'll try going back to prekilled. I'm just happy knowing he has some food in him now, so I've got two or three weeks to figure out how to get him to eat prekilled. Thanks for all your help!
 
He's probably drinking on his own when you don't see him. If you stay up all night watching him, you'll get to see him at his most active. Most likely that's when he drinks. Unless you're watching him constantly, there's no reason to assume he isn't drinking on his own. Holding him over the water (especially while he's supposed to be in his "settling in/no handling" time) really isn't necessary.
 
hehehe

Trust us, your corn knows exactly where to get water.

I have caught a loose corn drinking from my aquarium, and he made good use of the tiny drip from the tub facet as well. So it has no problems drinking water from what you are using. And I promise you he comes out at night to drink, when you dont see him!! :) :)

Great news about the feeding though! :)
bmm
 
But...

Isn't 2-3 weeks too far apart to feed baby corns? I thought they were supposed to be fed at least once a week, unless they were about to shed.
 
s'alright Terri...

...I think he just means that he has 2-3 weeks during which he can try and persuade it to eat defrosted pinks, and before he starts worrying about it not eating again. Not that he was going to wait 2-3 weeks before trying again. That's how I read it, anyways.

Cheers
Kel
 
That makes MUCH more sense!!!

I guess I was tired when I read it, and didn't quite comprehend what he was saying:eek: I've started back to school after YEARS of being out, and it is quite an adjustment. I am pretty much tired ALL the time. I'll be glad when the adjustment period is over!
 
Hatchlings do better being fed in something that keeps them close to their food. If fed in a larger environment they tend to hide and ignore their food. For older snakes it is usually so they won't swallow substrate when they eat:)
 
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